Up to NHL Betting Trends

posted January 21, 2008 at 18:42 in NHL Betting Trends

With the All-Star Game coming up you’ll be forced to take a break from your NHL betting for a few days this weekend, but the teams around the league will just be happy to have their players avoid injury over that time. Here’s a rundown of some of the NHL’s more prominent player injuries as the season goes past its traditional midway point.

Sidney Crosby – Pittsburgh Penguins

The Penguins were just getting on a big roll when their superstar center went down with a sprained ankle. To make matters worse it’s looking like The Wizard of Croz suffered a high ankle sprain, which could keep him off the ice for over a month. Watch for updates on Crosby early this week, and watch for the Pens to score fewer goals during February.

Dany Heatley – Ottawa Senators

The Senators came up with a big 3-2 win over the Red Wings last week, but they lost winger Heatley with a separated shoulder in the process. Heatley, like Crosby, will be replaced at this weekend’s All-Star Game, but Ottawa will have a much tougher time replacing him in their lineup. The Senators might have to make a trade in the short term.

Michael Nylander – Washington Capitals

Can the Capitals surge to a berth in the playoffs this season? Only if they can get along without the services of Nylander, who will be out for months with a shoulder injury. Nylander was second on the Caps in scoring (behind Alexander Ovechkin) when he left the lineup last week, and the team now needs rookie Nicklas Backstrom to replace him.

Jonathan Toews – Chicago Blackhawks

Toews has been out of the Hawks’ lineup since the beginning of January with a sprained knee, but he could be back on the ice shortly after the All-Star break. The rookie center was competing with teammate Patrick Kane for the Calder Trophy before he was injured, and the team hopes the two can find chemistry again in the second half.

Joe Sakic – Colorado Avalanche

Ryan Smith – Colorado Avalanche

Paul Stastny – Colorado Avalanche

Yikes. It was bad enough that the Avs lost captain Sakic for three months because of hernia surgery, but Smyth then suffered a fractured ankle and Stastny had to have his appendix removed. Sakic is still a long way off from returning, while Smyth isn’t expected back until early March. Stastny hopes to get back on the ice in early February.

Joffrey Lupul – Philadelphia Flyers

Lupul’s concussion was considered mild when it occurred in early January, but the winger hasn’t been able to return to the lineup yet. The team is now expecting to get him back in the middle of February. Lupul had 35 points in 39 games before the injury, and the team has had to rely on a resurgent Scott Hartnell to score during his absence.

Bryan McCabe – Toronto Maple Leafs

You never know from one day to the next whether the Maple Leafs are competing for a playoff berth or planning on blowing up their roster, but McCabe’s biggest concern right now is getting back onto the ice. The defenseman has been out since mid-December with a broken hand, and he isn’t expected to get back into the lineup for a few weeks.

Dan Boyle – Tampa Bay Lightning

The Lightning are suffering through a terrible season, but they could at least be getting Boyle back in their lineup soon. The defenseman has played just four games this season because of a hand injury, but he might be ready to return as soon as this week. Tampa then might decide to deal the veteran for young help before the trade deadline.

Jere Lehtinen – Dallas Stars

The Stars would like to get veteran winger Lehtinen back in the lineup as soon as possible, as his recovery from sports hernia surgery is nearing completion. Lehtinen was clicking on a line with Mike Ribeiro and Brenden Morrow (19 points in 21 games) prior to the injury, but could just find himself being worked slowly back into the lineup.

Mike Cammalleri – Los Angeles Kings

Cammalleri had scored 15 goals and picked up 14 assists in 36 games before suffering a rib injury back on December 22, and he’s just recently started skating again. The last-place Kings could really use the shot in the arm that Cammalleri’s offense would provide them, but the team isn’t sure when the star winger will be able to return to game action.

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